The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup tips off Friday in Berlin, Germany. It will be the second time that the city will be hosting the tournament. And for Caitlin Clark, this week marks something she has waited a long time for.
It will be her first appearance on the senior USA Basketball roster at a major international tournament.
Caitlin Clark Feels Things Are Different Now
In an exclusive interview with FIBA Basketball, Clark reflected on her return to USA Basketball and how different things feel now compared to the last time she suited up for the national team.
“You know, since the last time I played USA Basketball, a lot has changed in my basketball career. It’s been, like, what? Five years now. So I finished college and now in my third year in the WNBA and, I feel really confident in everything that I’ve been able to do,” Clark said, as per FIBA Basketball.
Clark has already represented the United States at the youth level, but her path to the senior national team has taken some time.
The Indiana Fever star last played for USA Basketball’s junior national teams before making her senior debut. She was already a two-time gold medalist, winning the 2017 FIBA U16 Americas Championship and the 2019 FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup.
After her freshman season at Iowa, Clark returned to USA Basketball for the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup in Hungary. She started all seven games and helped the United States win gold. Clark averaged 14.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game and was named the tournament’s MVP.
Her journey back to Team USA also brings back memories of the 2024 Paris Olympics. When the Olympic roster was announced in June 2024, Clark was left off the 12-player team despite being one of the biggest names in basketball.
USA Basketball officials pointed to her lack of senior national-team experience and emphasized the importance of experience, continuity, and familiarity with international play when explaining the decision.
“It’s crazy, and I think you know, you get used to it. I think at the same time, I almost think about it another way. Like, how lucky am I? This is pretty special and pretty cool, and there’s so many people that would kill to be in this spot and have this type of opportunity.”
“Especially to play for the USA team, let alone play in the WNBA and live out your dream every single day. So I try to look at, look at it the other way and think about how lucky I am and how grateful I am,” Clark added during the interview.
She is currently averaging 22.5 points, 8.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game for the Fever. Those numbers show just how much her game has developed since she was a rookie.
This time, Clark is not simply the young prospect hoping to earn her place. She is an established WNBA star who has already played on the international stage during the 2026 World Cup qualifying tournament.
